Australia secured a series win after thrashing the Proteas in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before Tea on day four
Australia secured a series win after thrashing the Proteas in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before Tea on day four. The Aussies won by an innings and 182 runs, taking nine wickets to restrict South Africa to 204.
Proteas Men’s Test captain, Dean Elgar, blamed the loss on the team’s inexperienced batting unit, with many players under 15 caps.
Elgar is the most experienced member of the Proteas batting unit with 80 caps, followed by vice-captain Temba Bavuma who’s on 52. The remainder of the top six consisting of Sarel Erwee (8), Theunis de Bruyn (12), Khaya Zondo (3), and Kyle Verreynne (12), has a total of 35 caps.
“It is not easy at the moment. That was a bit of a hammering,” Elgar admitted post-match. “We must come up to speed to the intensity Test cricket deserves.
“Call a spade a spade; the inexperience is killing us – especially with the bat in hand. You’ve got to hit reality on the head as well. We lost a lot of batters in the last few years. I think that’s got a role to play. But in saying that, there are opportunities for guys to come in and play and make spots their own. Unfortunately, that inexperience at this level is really hurting us at the moment.”
SOLID TEMBA 👏
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 29, 2022
Temba Bavuma works his way to a 20th Test half-century - it comes off 124 balls #AUSvSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/2GSqRlvIfn
Temba Bavuma top scored for the Proteas with 65, while Nathan Lyon took 3-58 in a depleted attack. Theunis de Bruyn (28), Sarel Erwee (21), and Khaya Zondo (1) all departed before lunch at the hands of Australia’s high-class pace attack.
The Proteas will face Australia next week from the 4th of January for the final Test, with only pride to play for.
Next, they play England in a One Day International series at the end of January.
